Lady Bolognese review: Utterly grotesque and dangerously funny
Edinburgh Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
Image: Hudson Hughes
by Zoe Paskett
With their ghoulish blue and green faces, mucky aprons and sinister chuckles, is it any surprise that Barbara and Veronica aren’t usually allowed to supervise the children? Dinner ladies tend to get overlooked, but this is their last day at Buzz Lightyear’s School for Ugly Kids and they’re sure as hell going to be remembered.
Lady Bolognese: Class War is one of those totally unique late night Fringe shows that will see you leave wondering, did that just happen? Did I and a whole bunker of people just spank each other silly on command? The answer is yes. Willingly, in fact.
Owl Class’s teacher has gone mysteriously missing, but you won’t miss her at all. These two hold a vice-like grip on the class, playing on everyone’s innate terror of being picked on back in primary school. They’re dangerously funny and their total commitment to being absolutely disgusting is captivating – you can’t take your eyes away from them for a second. And weirdly, you want to please them as well. They have the audience interaction bait and switch down to a tee.
The staging and prop work adds to the atmosphere, as a clock ticks in the background, a subtle nod to the threat of 3pm when mummy will come to pick up the kids. Barbara and Veronica have never seen mummy before, and the class has an absolute riot deciding what she looks like.
Tanika Lay-Meachen and Matt Straker complement each other so well, perfecting the balance of each sometimes stepping back and letting the other take the lead on terrorising the audience, but never dropping character in the background. It’s evidence that they are both clearly strong individual performers, but combined, a revelation. They have made a show that, while utterly grotesque, is surprisingly endearing at its core too, as you see how much Barbara and Veronica care for each other. They speak in unison and, yes, that’s demonic, but it’s also kind of sweet. If one of them is gonna leave the school, they both are.
Lady Bolognese teaches this class to never underestimate the women in the background and don’t you dare forget about them. Someone erect a statue in Pleasance Courtyard immediately. Or else.
Lady Bolognese: Class War is at Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker 3, 23:00 (not 19th). Tickets here
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